An air of melancholy and grief engulfed the residence of Kuala Kangsar MP Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad in Bukit Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur, after fragments of the helicopter he was travelling in along with several others yesterday in Sarawak, were found.

His wife, Mastura Mohd Yazid, 55, looked distraught after receiving the news and was surrounded by her family and closest friends.

Mastura was seen hugging her father Yazid Baba before getting into the vehicle awaiting her, believed to be heading to the KL International Airport in Sepang.

Mastura was in the car with her third child Wan Iskandar, 21, heading to the airport, about 11.45am, before the flight to Sarawak.

When met by reporters, Mastura asked them if they knew of any new developments in the incident.

"Have you got any news about the incident?" she asked in a sad tone.

The Eurocopter AS350 aircraft took off from Betong at 4.12pm heading to Kuching, and was last in contact with the control tower at 4.15pm, three minutes after takeoff.

Fragments of the helicopter carrying six people, including Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Noriah Kasnon, were found this morning.

Meanwhile, special officer to Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar, Abd Wahab Osman said the last time he spoke to his employer was at 11am yesterday, on a work-related matter.

According to him, Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar's eldest child, Wan Emir, 26 and youngest, Wan Amar, 19, who are both sitting for examinations in London, are aware of the current situation, while his second child Wan Imar, 24, is expected to return to Malaysia from London tonight.

- Bernama